Did the Olympics Inspire You?

While the Olympic games may be behind us now (at least until the Summer Games in 2012), the Olympic spirit may stick with you long after the Closing Ceremonies. And you don’t have to be an Olympic-level athlete to let the Games inspire you to better health! Olympic Inspiration Number One: introduction to new sports. It seems like they add new sports to the Games each year — one I’d never seen or heard of before this year was ski cross. But it sure looked like fun: four athletes side-by-side on a course that includes turns, jumps, and fast-paced passes. … Continue reading →

Safety is a Good Choice for Your Health

For a large portion of the year, it’s dark when I drive to work at the cats-only boarding facility. I usually take a back road, rather than the highway — less traffic, nice scenery, a better ride all around. This particular road has very little in the way of shoulders — and no sidewalks — for bikers and walkers. Two mornings in a row, I’ve encountered someone who didn’t take safety seriously. One was on a bike, riding down the middle of the road. Thankfully, I saw the bike’s reflectors and knew something was in my path… but didn’t make … Continue reading →

Health at School: New Shoes

Back to school shopping was always a horrible trial for my family. I’ve never been a huge fan of clothes shopping, so it was a miserable experience just for that. Then there was the huge divide in taste between me and my mom, which eventually got settled with this rule: if I picked something she hated, then she got to pick something I hated. Shoe shopping was only slightly less of a battlefield, if only because the choices were somewhat more limited! Much of our shoe shopping (in the elementary school years, at least) was done at the little shoe … Continue reading →

Health at School: Dreading Gym Class

Call it gym class or P.E. or phys ed — the words usually bring up a lot of memories for adults. You may recall moments of triumph or moments of embarrassment or moments of pain. Physical education is often an unpleasant part of the school day — especially for kids who aren’t athletic. So how do you help your kids get through the physical side of education? Remember that the most important part of gym class is the physical part — an opportunity to get up and get moving on a regular basis. Helping kids find the sports they love … Continue reading →

Goodbye, Favorite Shoes! Hello… Happy Feet?

I put my favorite pair of sneakers in the trash today. Now I’m sad. They were New Balance slip-on sneakers — no laces to tie when I was running late, just slip my feet in and keep moving. Perfect for wearing to my part time job at the cats-only boarding facility, because they were so easy to put on and take off (we change into scrubs when we get to work and change back when the shift is over — another place where not having to tie shoes is SO handy). But after more than a year of being my … Continue reading →

The Best Time of Day

Are you a morning person or a night owl? Throughout my school years, I was a morning person. I arranged my college schedule to have class in the mornings and afternoons free. I’d still rather do the bulk of my thinking in the early part of the day and leave the after-lunch hours for less brain-intensive activities. Brain power can actually wax and wane as the day progresses! Researchers have looked at the “best” times of day for different activities, based on brain chemistry. Early mornings (like the first few hours after you wake up) are the best time for … Continue reading →

A Beginner Again

Lately, a lot of things have conspired to have me looking back over the last ten years. I graduated from college in 1999, and that’s a pretty big milestone! It’s had me thinking about all the things I’ve done in ten years — lived in four different states, gained weight and lost weight, got into shape and got out of shape… you get the idea. Now, at thirty-two, I feel like I’m a beginner again. I recently had the opportunity to take part in an activity I ADORED ten years ago, and it really hit home how much older I … Continue reading →

Where Germs Thrive in the Home (and How to Handle Them)

No matter how well you clean, there are some places around the house (or office) that tend to accumulate dirt and bacteria. You might know some of these already… or you might be surprised! Your mattress and pillows. The bedroom is a favorite spot for those evil allergy triggers: dust mites. Your mattress can also soak up sweat and other bodily fluid! The best way to keep your mattress and pillows clean is to bag them. A plastic cover (underneath your sheets and mattress pad) will keep the dust mites out. Wash bedding regularly in hot water to kill dust … Continue reading →

The Leg Bone Connected To The …….

Our bodies are so incredibly amazing aren’t they? Stop and think about it. Just how we are able to move alone is fascinating. At birth we had about 300 bones to start with. Some of these then fused together to form the 206 bones that we have in our body by the time adulthood is reached. The bones are made up of surfaces or layers. The first or outer surface of the bone is known as the periosteum. Within the periosteum lie blood vessels and nerves. The layer following the periosteum is the compact bone. The compact bone is hard … Continue reading →

Resolution Check-Up

It’s been a little over a month since I made my New Year’s Resolutions public here in the Families.com Health Blog. Here’s a quick recap of how I wanted to change my life in 2009 and beyond: Use the exercise room at least once per week. Be more diligent about dusting and vacuuming. Make time for my fiction writing. Be kinder to myself. So far, I haven’t done so well with the workout resolution. I only used the gym ONCE in January, as opposed to once per week. One obstacle I’ve run into is my schedule. I don’t have a … Continue reading →